Have a Senior Moment Festival marks its fourth edition with plays, music, artist salons, and more, September 25 to October 4
The 10-day program opens with an On Our Feet (OOF!) staged reading of Carol Shields and Dave Williamson’s comedy Anniversary
Louis Riel Dancers. Photo courtesy of Western Gold Theatre
Western Gold Theatre presents Have a Senior Moment Festival 2026 from September 25 to October 4 at various venues
“HAVING A SENIOR MOMENT” takes on a whole new meaning at Western Gold Theatre’s annual festival of the same name, a celebration of the performing arts by senior artists.
The 10-day program runs September 25 to October 4 at various venues and features new plays, a movie matinee, creative workshops, and more.
Headlining the festival this year is Anniversary, Carol Shields and Dave Williamson’s comedy play following a divorcing middle-class couple who reunites on their wedding anniversary to divide their assets, only to be interrupted by friends who are unaware of their separation. Directed by Anna Hagan and starring Annabel Kershaw, Denyse Wilson, Tom McBeath, Sandy Winsby, and Sean Sonier, the On Our Feet (OOF!) staged reading runs September 25 to 27 at PAL Studio Theatre.
Taking place at the same location are readings of three new plays in development. Michael Armstrong’s Blue Heaven (September 30) is about two formerly married artists who found success late in their careers; Dolores Drake’s Adrift (October 1) tells the story of three generations of Newfoundland women waiting for a man to return from sea; and Valerie Sing Turner’s Breaking Parity (October 3) is a political satire that reimagines a classic Dickens tale with a Scrooge-like Henry A. Kissinger, made in partnership with Visceral Visions.
Rounding out the theatre programming is John Lazarus’s Running Wilde, presented by United Players of Vancouver in association with Western Gold Theatre and showing at the Jericho Arts Centre to September 27. Riddled with betrayals and happy endings, the play follows the comical, fictitious journey of a young Oscar Wilde during a North American tour.
Award-winning comedian Janice Bannister takes the PAL stage on October 2 with her cheeky observations of “senior” life, in partnership with Blind Tiger Comedy. Opening the show for the beloved “comedy mama” are participants of the 55+ Improv class.
On September 29, a movie matinee at PAL is set to feature a documentary and short-film pairing. Silver Screamers follows a group of seniors as they attempt to make a low-budget horror film called The Rug, in which a senior woman’s newly acquired rug develops a voracious appetite for people.
Other festival highlights include two artist salons: Scripts & Sips, a scriptwriting salon presented in partnership with Curious Cats Theatre Collective (September 29); and Where the Spark Starts, a conversation with playwrights John Lazarus, David Geary, Elaine Avila, and friends (October 2).
Closing the festival on October 4 is the Métis Kitchen Party and Feast at PAL, presented with Full Circle: First Nations Performance, the Talking Stick Festival, and V’ni Dansi. On the roster are the internationally acclaimed Louis Riel Métis Dancers, storyteller Tom McCallum, and singer-songwriter Sandy Scofield.
There are also several hands-on workshops at Barclay Manor, including Métis sash fingerweaving, cedar bracelet making, playwriting, and improv comedy.
For more information on all the events, visit the theatre website here. 
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